Newby runs for re-election

Wednesday

N.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby ran for an open seat on the court in 2004 partly due to his concerns about judicial activism.

N.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby ran for an open seat on the court in 2004 partly due to his concerns about judicial activism.

His judicial philosophy hasn’t changed.

“I believe in judicial self-restraint and not legislating from the bench. That’s important,” he said during a stop in Jacksonville for an interview with The Daily News.

What is different this time is a re-election bid that has become high profile on a ballot of nonpartisan judicial races.

Newby is being challenged by Sam J Ervin IV, who currently serves as a judge on the N.C. Court of Appeals. Ervin is the son of a federal judge and grandson of a U.S. senator.

Newby, a first-generation lawyer, said his opponent’s name recognition is something he can’t compete with; but what he hopes will stand out is his reputation of being a fair and impartial judge with no agenda.

“I think the most important thing for voters to appreciate is that for the last eight years I’ve been a justice I’ve strived to be fair, impartial and balanced in everything I’ve done,” he said.

Backing his statement are endorsements from four former chief justices, two republican and two democrats.

Newby said the broad bipartisan support is something that has been possible with the switch to nonpartisan judicial elections in North Carolina.

But that’s not to say the race for Newby’s seat has been without partisanship.

Newby said that happened when Ervin entered the race in February.

“Why would someone choose to run against a sitting judge, who by every account from both parties, is doing a good job being nonpartisan, why choose to run against that person other than for partisan reasons?” he asked.

Ervin is a registered Democrat and Newby a registered Republican. With four of the seven justices registered Republican, it is said a win by Ervin would sway the balance.

Newby stressed that political affiliation doesn’t matter. On the court, his job is to apply the law fairly and impartially.

In his election bid, Ervin has been vocal against super PACs and the influx of outside money into judicial races, including money that has gone to support Newby.

Both Newby and Ervin are participating in public campaign financing and they cannot coordinate with the PACs that may be operating.

Newby said there are PACs on both sides and he doesn’t have a problem with groups exercising their Constitutional right of free speech to get information out about a candidate.

One of the difficulties in the nonpartisan statewide judicial races is getting the word out to public about who you are.

“How do you become relevant to the electorate?” Newby said.

Newby said what he has focused on is getting the word out about his background and qualifications.

His mother was a teacher and his father a printer and he got into a career in law through the encouragement of a Boy Scout citizenship merit badge counselor while earning Eagle Scout rank.

He has been chosen to educate other judges and lawyers and to teach law school classes. He also takes his passion for judicial education to youth through schools and Scouts.

For more information about Newby, go to his website at newbyforcourt.com.